There are some conversations that stay with you long after the microphones are turned off. This was one of them.

In this episode of Schmooze with Suze, I sit down with Kate Temple-Brown to talk about foster youth, resilience, mentorship, and the uncomfortable reality that too many young people age out of systems without the support, stability, and human connection they deserve.

Kate shares the heart behind The Opportunity Project and the work being done through The Performance Academy to create spaces where young people can discover confidence, creativity, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging. We talk about what happens when communities stop asking “What’s wrong with these kids?” and start asking “What happened to them?” and “What opportunities have they never been given?”

This conversation also explores the larger systems surrounding foster care, including the recent bipartisan Chafee legislation championed by Congressman Aaron Bean, and why legislation only matters if real people are willing to step into the gaps between policy and practice.

For me, this episode became a reminder that changing a life rarely starts with a giant moment. More often, it starts with one adult showing up consistently, seeing potential, and refusing to let a young person disappear into statistics.

If this episode moves you, please consider learning more, volunteering, mentoring, donating, or simply sharing this conversation. Because the gaps are real. But so is the power of community.

✨ Learn More & Get Involved:

🎭 The Opportunity Project + The Performance Academy
The Performance Academy
📍 3674 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207
📞 (904) 322-7672
📧 info@jaxtpa.org

🤝 TSI Cares Foundation
TSI Cares Foundation
📍 6671 Hyde Grove Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32210
📞 (904) 503-0131
📧 info@tsicaresnetwork.com

#SchmoozeWithSuze #FosterYouth #TheOpportunityProject #TSICares #Jacksonville #Leadership #CommunityImpact #Mentorship #CultureAndValues #GlobalCitizenship #BeTheChange

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